US Not Graduating Enough Students in Science & Technology

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - March 23, 2014 - PRLog -- Kids today are totally gadget crazy. From using cell phones when you're out to dinner to the console game at home, you might be lucky if you can pry those little devices out of their fingers.  They also tend to be more technically savvy than us, relying upon their natural curiosities to experiment until they get the results they want, instead of being bound by many of the "shoulds" and "should-nots" that sometimes limit our own abilities.

According to a 2012 report by the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, the US is currently not graduating enough students in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields (aka STEM to those involved in education) to meet the demands of the coming years.  In fact, it is projected that we'll require a 33% increase in STEM graduation rates over the next decade.  In the past, the US has relied upon foreign-born professionals to fill in the gaps, but as more tech jobs open up for these men and women in their home countries, it makes more sense for us to hire from within.

So how do we help our kids evolve their love of technological gadgets into a STEM career when they graduate college?  The answer may lie in fostering a love of math and science that can last their lifetime.

Start early and expose them often, even if it's against your inclinations.  Let's face it, many of us "hated math" when we were kids.  Maybe it was hard to follow or not particularly engaging.  To get your kids interested, you may have to overcome some of your own fears.

Playing math games together at the breakfast table or on a hand-held device not only teaches skills, but makes learning and playing with math fun.  My kids enjoyed an iPhone game called Park Math by a developer named Duck Duck Moose (www.duckduckmoose.com).  It incorporated counting, matching, addition and subtraction.  Google Play and Android users can check out Moose Math, from the same developer.  There are many others.  The point is to find a game your kids enjoy and will keep coming back to, giving them a "fun" association to math.

Take them to places where they can see science in action.  Hands-on museums are a really great for this.  The Association of Science - Technology Centers has an extensive list to help you find one in your area (http://astc.org/sciencecenters/find.php).  Check out local science fairs - they'll show what kids their age are capable of and excite them to their own potential.

Maker Faire (http://makerfaire.com/) is a huge gathering of innovators, scientists, crafters and tech enthusiasts, who come together to share their passion and inventions with like-minded individuals.  Half of all attendees bring their kids.  With hands on demonstrations like making your own mini robot to seeing what really happens when you drop a Mentos in a Coke Zero, organizers call it “the greatest show and tell on earth.”  This year’s event in San Mateo is happening May 17^th and 18^th and tickets are on sale starting at about $35/day for adults.

Coding - computer programming - is the wave of the future.  The more your kids know about it and understand it, the better off they'll be, yet very few school programs currently include it within their curriculum.  How can you connect your kids with the knowledge they need to succeed?  MIT Media Lab, in collaboration with a group called Lifelong Kindergarten, has created a free program for kids called Scratch (http://scratch.mit.edu/).  Designed for ages 8 to 16, it's a programming language where you can create games, animations and stories and then share them with the online Scratch community, in order to receive feedback and learn from each other.

Online learning tutorials are also available at Code (http://code.org/).  It’s a computer science-education non-profit created by Hadi and Ali Partovi, a couple of the tech industry elites who owe their success to an early interest in computers and their education in writing software.  They've lined up endorsements from such tech giants as Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, who appear in a video released by the brothers to promote the website.  Find the video on YouTube by searching for "Hour of Code."

Watch TV.  Yes, you read that right.  There are some great shows that can get kids excited about science.  The Zula Patrol (www.zula.com) focuses on astronomy, geology, physics and math and the accompanying website has resources for kids, parents, and teachers alike.  Dragonfly TV (http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/) has episodes you can watch about such topics as Earth and Space and Technology and Invention, featuring real kids who are just as excited about science as your little one.  The website has links for parents and teachers, games they can play online or on their devices and do-it-yourself science experiments to try at home.

Lastly, support the sciences wherever you can.  Change the Equation (http://changetheequation.org/) is working to mobilize the business community to improve STEM learning in the US through philanthropy, inspiring youth and promoting state policies that enhance STEM programs in schools.  Check out their website for more information about how you can improve STEM promotion in your community.

About The Author:
Andrea Eldridge is CEO and co-founder of Nerds On Call, an on-site computer and laptop repair service (http://callnerds.com/) company for consumers and businesses. Andrea is the writer of two weekly columns; Computer Nerds On Call, a nationally syndicated column for Scripps-Howard News Service, and Nerd Chick Adventures in The Record Searchlight. She regularly appears on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, The CW, and CNNon shows such as Good Day Sacramento, Good Morning Arizona, and Good Day Portland, offering viewers easy tips on technology, Internet lifestyle, and gadgets. Andrea recently has begun working with Demand Media to produce content for eHow.com and has written a book for themSmartphone 101: Integrating Your iPhone Into a Windows World.
Andrea is available for Q & A’s, expert tech quotes and will appear on your show, call today! See Andrea in action at callnerds.com/andrea.

About Nerds On Call:
Established in a spare room in Redding, Calif., in March 2004, Nerds On Call offers on-site computer and laptop repair services to consumers and businesses. Nerds On Call provides trouble-shooting for PCs and Macs, home and office networks, printers, iPods® and MP3 players, handheld devices and cell phones, home theaters and game systems, and virtually every other form of digital entertainment. In2009, 2010, & 2011 the company was named to Inc. magazine’s list of 5000 fastest growing private companies. With 15 locations across California, Oregon, Washington, & Arizona Nerds On Call serves more than 40,000 satisfied customers per year. For more information, visitcallnerds.com or call 1-800-919-NERD.